Hordes & Heroes - Pilum

[LEmpereur]

we continue to play, and try Romans… but We don’t totally understand the Pilum rule… the « (5 + P) » in the army list… and don’t find any thing in the main rule!
Does it mean that the Impact is 5 + a bonus… but what is this bonus?
And if not… how to play it?

Thanks for help



We made Pilum token to play:

[Paul K]

The Roman pilum which is in effect a relatively short range, single use, heavy throwing weapon was used by the Legionaries against charging enemies, or before making contact with an enemy formation. In conversation with Roman reenacters some years ago, they said it was possible to throw 2 pilum at a charging enemy before contact. Because the soft iron shaft bent on impact with an opponents shield or body it was very much a single use weapon which could not be hurled back at the original thrower.
The (5+P)indicates it as a missile or shooting weapon and is therefore used during the shooting phase of the Hordes and Heroes system, but unlike other missile weapons only has a single hex range - this is to simulate how it was used historically. Like other missile weapons the effect can be reduced by the opponents armour or use of a shield (A1 or A2), adding 1 or 2 to the dice score required to hit. The number of hits received and the result inflicted upon the target enemy unit is then referenced using the combat results table.
There is no requirement for the Legionaries to always use the pilum on first contact with the first enemy unit, it can be retained and used on another first contact with another enemy unit later on in the game if so desired.

[LEmpereur]

Paul, thank you for this very thorough answer.

Like light chariots, can legionnaires throw their pilum during a charge? That would seem logical…

Could you please answer to the other questions?